Deloris Thomas Named Virginia’s Outstanding Paraprofessional of the Year

At the Virginia Library Association Paraprofessional Conference held last week in Richmond, Deloris Thomas received the Outstanding Paraprofessional Award, an honor given annually since 1996. According to the nomination requirements, it is given to a library staff member who “demonstrates excellence in performance in his/her field of expertise. This individual should also be someone who fosters communication among library employees throughout the Commonwealth and advances and strengthens the image of paraprofessionals.” Ms. Thomas, Assistant to the Dean of University Libraries, has spent her entire career working in higher education in Virginia. She is active in VLA and has served on the board of the VLA Paraprofessional Forum since 2007. At William & Mary Ms. Thomas was elected president of the Hourly and Classified Association (HACE) and was instrumental in creating the Staff Assembly. As Assembly president, she serves on the Board of Visitors as staff representative and continues to provide staff input on other campus committees, including Strategic Planning, Faculty Priorities, Employee Appreciation Day Planning, and College Diversity. For further information about Ms. Thomas’s accomplishments, read the letter submitted in support of her nomination. Congratulations, Deloris!